The benefit system needs to be pitched at the point where the minimum number of people make living on benefits a lifestyle choice. As there are as many different circumstances as there are people, lines have to be drawn and there will be losers and winners. Without unreasonable intrusion and too many value judgements into peoples lives, I don't see any other outcome. Where those lines are drawn are always going to be controversial and have negative impacts on some. Maybe an extra £20 (or 40 or 60...) per week and not bother to go for work.....The standard Tory approach - you know that £20 pw boost you lazy, scrounging, fraudulent, workshy scum have enjoyed spending on mobile phones, booze, fags and flat screen TV's? - well we want it back to give to our rich chums.
The truth is for many people that £20 has been a godsend and has helped improve thier lives. I know when I was on benefits that an extra £20 would go a long way in buying better food ( and on some really hard weeks SOME food), heating my home, meaning I could have the lights on longer, drive to job interviews rather than try to get a warrant for public transport and, god forbid, mean I might think ( think mind you) about buying a pint of beer in a pub like a real man.
I do wish people, especially Tories, actually understood what life on benefits is really like. They are very quick to comment, especially on things they know nothing about and especially when thier favoured rag has told them what to think. Have you ever claimed benefits? It isn't like the picture the Mail presents!
A sensible, pragmatic Tory party would have found a way to ensure that a the £20 uplift became part of the benefits payment long term. In red wall areas in particular this would have reduced the backsliding to Labour that we are seeing.
We all probably know someone in both camps - I certainly do.
About as easy as taxing 'other people' and then giving it away as handouts .....I think that makes it easy to make statements and decisions about benefits when they have never needed them.